Abu'l Fazl's account gives a picture of the social make-up of the zamindaris in Mughal India. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Intermediate castes - A fairly large representation among the zamindars
Option (1) Muslim zamindaris - Firm control already established over rural society — Incorrect. Muslim zamindaris formed only a liberal sprinkling. Firm control over rural society belonged to the Brahmana-Rajput combine.
Option (2) Brahmana-Rajput combine - A liberal sprinkling among the zamindars — Incorrect. The upper-caste Brahmana-Rajput combine had firm control over rural society. A liberal sprinkling describes the Muslim zamindaris instead.
Option (3) Intermediate castes - A fairly large representation among the zamindars — Correct. Abu'l Fazl's account shows a fairly large representation of the so-called intermediate castes among zamindars. This pair is right.
Option (4) Intermediate castes - Firm control already established over rural society — Incorrect. The intermediate castes had a fairly large share, but firm control belonged to the Brahmana-Rajput combine.
NCERT (2026-27): “5. The Zamindars … “combine had already established firm control over rural society. It also reflects a fairly large representation from the so-called intermediate castes, as we saw earlier, as well as a liberal sprinkling of Muslim zamindaris.” |